Hibiscus plant named: &#39;Small Wonder&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of winter hardy  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Small Wonder’ is the result of a unique hybridization. This new and distinct cultivar is characterized primarily as to its novelty by its extreme cold hardiness to Zone 4, medium thick-textured, heavily streaked and speckled, red, white and pink flowers and its “Maple-shaped” foliage with a black-purple coloration, compactness of approximately 2 ½ feet, its vigorous and uniform breaking habit and its floriferous nature from midsummer until frost.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This plant, as a hybridized hardy Hibiscus, is valuable to the landscape market for its improvements in thicker textured and vividly colored flowers and buds, refined “maple-like” foliage with a dark purple color, its all-around vigor, good compact breaking action, and adaptation to extreme environments, including the ability to consistently survive winter temperatures of at least −30 degrees Fahrenheit.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The new plant of this invention is the result of a unique hybridization, with the breeding achievement being evidenced in the outstanding combination of characteristics exhibited by this new and distinct Hibiscus plant, which include:

(a) Refined, 3-5 lobed “maple-shaped” leaves of a black-purple color and relatively smooth margins which combined compliments the landscape;

(b) Medium-sized flowers that are outstanding for their red, white and pink colored, heavily streaked and speckled petals (on both sides);

(c) The plant being very floriferous with flowers that stay open for at least one to two days;

(d) The plant being small to medium-sized but vigorous with compact and uniform breaking action which gives it unique landscape utility; and

(e) The plant being so hardy that it can consistently withstand winter temperatures of at least −30 degrees Fahrenheit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘Small Wonder’ was the result of a 50-year breeding program. Its ancestry includes Hibiscus moscheutos and Hibiscus coccineus. More specifically, the plant resulted from multiple crossings with an unnamed, Fleming-bred Hibiscus moscheutos (non patented) and an unnamed Fleming-bred Hibiscus coccineus (non patented). The seedling which most nearly met all of the above standards was selected.

This new plant first bloomed in the summer of 2001 and was selected by Gretchen Zwetzig on her property located at 8101 S. 14th St. 68512 Lincoln, Nebr. (previous address for applicants). Asexual propagation of the plant by cuttings and root division in Lincoln, Nebr. has shown that the unique and distinguishing features of the plant are faithfully transmitted from generation to generation and appear to be fixed.

Since its origin, the plant has bloomed from midsummer until frost, while exhibiting the aforementioned distinctive characteristics. This hardy Hibiscus plant greatly contributes to the market with its, stunning beauty and utter refinement, its compact growth habit, its enhanced resistance to disease and insects, its stability through extremes in rain and drought, and its extreme hardiness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The flower and foliage of the cultivar at 2 ½ years of age are shown in the attached photographs. More specifically, FIG. 1 is a close-up of the flower and the leaf. FIG. 2 is a close-up of the leaf and bud.

The colors are as true as is reasonably possible to attain in photographic illustrations of this type. The colors illustrated may be slightly off due to light reflectance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

What follows is a detailed description of the new cultivar. The specific color descriptions are in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, while general color recitations are consistent with ordinary American terminology.

‘Small Wonder’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. It is to be understood that the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environment such as temperature, light intensity, humidity, and day length without, however any difference in genotype of the plant. The following botanical characteristics and observations are gathered from the plant when grown in Lincoln, Nebr. (USDA Zone 4) and Lindsay, Calif. (USDA Zone 9).

-   The plant:     -   -   Parentage.—Seed Parent: Hibiscus moscheutos, unnamed and             unpatented Flemings Flower Field-bred seedling. Pollen             Parent: Hibiscus coccineus, unnamed and unpatented Flemings             Flower Field-bred seedling.         -   Comparison between observed plant and parents.—Parents were             similar, except for being approximately ½ foot taller in             height than Observed Plant.         -   Comparison between observed plant and other known             cultivars.—The Observed Plant is unique, but most similar to             patents: Crown Jewels U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,857 among the             other patented hardy Hibiscus from Flemings Flower Fields,             in that: (a) they are all more compact at 3 feet on             average. (b) they are all hardy to −30 degrees             Fahrenheit. (c) they all have refined new leaf shapes and             colors. (d) they all have thick, overlapping new flower             colors with blooms from the top to the bottom of the plant.         -   Origin.—A selected seedling from stated cross.         -   Type of plant.—Hardy, herbaceous perennial.         -   Classification.—Variety of hardy Hibiscus plant.         -   Propagation.—Relatively easy to propagate through cuttings;             holds its distinguishing characteristics through successive             cuttings and divisions.         -   Size.—About 2 ½ to 3 feet tall and about 2 ½ feet wide.         -   Form.—Symmetrical annual growth from perennial roots.         -   Habit.—Upright and uniformly branched.         -   Growth.—Vigorous; medium and compact. Full grown (2 ½ to 3             ft) in 2 years. 2 ft 8 inches or 32 inches when measured.         -   Hardiness.—Hardy to at least −30 degrees Fahrenheit.         -   General health.—Plant is very disease resistant against rot,             aphids, spider mites, scale, white fly etc.; sturdy through             excessive drought, rain or wind.         -   Propagation.—Relatively easy and fast rooting in             approximately 2 weeks.         -   Foliage.—1. Arrangement: Alternate. 2. Shape: Juvenile: 3-5             lobed “maple-shaped” leaves. Rounded base shape. Mature:             Refined, “maple-shaped”, 3-5 lobed leaf with entire to             mildly serrate margins and acute apices; rounded base. 3.             Size: Mature leaf (petiole base to apex): Length is about 6             inches or (15 cm), width is about 3 inches or (7.5 cm).             Young leaf: Length 2 ½ inches or (6.5 cm), width is 1 ½             inches or (4 cm). 4. Color: Young leaves: N 77-A Mature             leaves: (upper side): Between N 77-A and N 79-A. Veins:             Venation pattern: Palmate. Venation Color: N 79-A Coloration             of the lower leaf surface: Mature: Between 148-B and 149-B.             Young: closest to 147-B 5. Surface texture: Upper: Smooth.             Lower: Semi-smooth. 6. Petiole length: About 2 ¾ inches or             6.5 cm. Diameter: 1-2 cm. 7. Petiole color: 137-A and N             77-A.         -   Stems.—The stems are stout at the base becoming more slender             toward the apices; coloration is consistent with the             petiole.         -   Length.—2-3 inches. Diameter: 1-2 cm.         -   Internode length.—apx. 2 inches.         -   Texture.—Semi-smooth. -   The flower:     -   -   Blooming period.—Profuse from July until frost.         -   Flower diameter.—Medium to large; about 8-10 inches (24 cm).         -   Borne.—Singly in leaf axils, from midpoint of stems upward.         -   Bloom duration.—Individual bloom lasts at least one to two             full days.         -   Form.—Campanulate; petals are also very overlapping.         -   Average number of flowers per season.—300.         -   Bud.—1. Length: About 2 ¼ inches or (6 cm) on day before             opening. Diameter: apx. 2 inches. 2. Color: 61-B, C,             and D. 3. Surface texture: Semi-glabrous. 4. Duration: One             to two weeks.         -   Corolla.—Having five petals. 1. Petal character and             dimensions: Campanulate and very overlapping. (a) Length:             About 4-5 inches or (10-12 cm). (b) Width: About 4-5 inches             or (10-12 cm). 2. Coloration: Red, white and pink. 69-D,             59-A, 60-A and 53-A. (a) Margins: (Front and back): 67-B.             Background coloration of petal surface: Whiter than             69-D. (b) Venation (through veins) in petals: 67-B and 53-A             (same on petal backside). (c) Eye zone: Between 59-A and             60-A. Size: 3 inches or (7.5 cm). 3. Texture: Smooth. 4.             Substance: thick. 5. Shape: Campanulate and very overlapping             with petal folds at edges.         -   Reproductive organs.—1. Staminal column: Stamen along basal             two-thirds. Stamen length: About 1 ¾ inches or (4.8 cm).             Stamen color: Lighter than 11-D with N 74 A (streaks).             Pollen color: 162-B. 2. Style: Terminates upper one-third of             stamina column. Stigmatic lobe color: 11-D (tips: 63-A).         -   Calyx.—Connate at the base; about 1 ¼ inches or (3.5 cm) in             length. Color: Medium green: 147-A.         -   Stipules.—None.         -   Seed.—Size: 1 cm. Color: Grey-brown. Average number: Less             than 100.         -   Epicalyx.—Whorl of bracts. 1. Shape: 10-12 slender,             sword-shaped bractlets. 2. Length: About 1 ½ inches or (3.8             cm). 3. Color: 144-A.         -   Penduncle.—1. Length: About 2 inches or (6 ½ cm). Diameter:             1 cm. 2. Strength: Stiff and sturdy. 3. Color: Light to             medium green with slight reddish-purple cast. 148-A and 175             A. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of hardy Hibiscus plant, as herein shown and described, characterized by its compact nature, refined “maple-shaped” foliage of an extremely dark purple coloration, its large heavily streaked and speckled, red, white and pink flowers, its vigor and its hardiness. 